After spending over a year in development, the blue pills finally came. In fact, they were approved for sale in Europe back in March. But it took a while for them to make their way over to us. In fact, it was the beginning of June before they started appearing on pharmacy shelves in the U.S.A.
So what is Viagra? And why should you care?
The Basics
Short for “sildenafil citrate,” Viagra is a drug made by Pfizer and approved in 1998 to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Although it was originally designed to be used alongside sexual stimulation, as its name suggests, Viagra can be enjoyed solo or with your partner. The recommended dosage for the blue pill is 100mg, taken orally around the same time as the act of penetration (typically, before the onset of muscle cramps).
For those who take the medicine as prescribed, Viagra has a very high success rate. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that nearly 80% of users report satisfaction with the dosage. That’s higher than many other FDA-approved drugs, including the popular erectile dysfunction treatments Cialis and Levitra. (1)
In July 2018, the FDA approved a new drug called LucediXa, an erection-stabilizing medication for men with benign prostate hypertrophy. (2)
The Side Effects
Besides its proven effectiveness, Viagra is known for having some pretty common side effects. The most common ones include headache, flushing, and transient, low-grade vision loss. (3)
Just like other PDE-5 inhibitors (PDE5), such as Cialis and Levitra, these side effects should subside once you’ve started using Viagra. Still, they can be bothersome. If any of these side effects persist or are particularly bothersome, you may need to switch to a different erectile dysfunction treatment.
The History
It’s no secret that Pfizer has a lot of money and resources behind them. This is mainly thanks to their widely-used drug Victoza, which is a drug that helps reduce the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. (4)
While we were all distracted by the pandemic, Pfizer spent a lot of time and money developing a new type of pill that could treat ED. After spending over a year in development, the blue pills finally came. (5)
In fact, as we reported earlier this year, Viagra was originally designed to be used in conjunction with specific supplements. According to a leaked pharmaceutical document from Germany, Viagra was originally called Sildenafil and was supposed to be used in conjunction with the dietary supplement Ginkgo Biloba.
What is Ginkgo Biloba? Well, it’s a type of tree commonly found in the forests of central Europe. For centuries, doctors have used the leaves of the ginkgo tree to treat symptoms of dementia. (6)
While scientists still aren’t entirely sure how and why Ginkgo Biloba works to reduce dementia symptoms, they do know that it improves blood flow throughout the body. (7)
Since Ginkgo Biloba is known to improve blood flow, it made logical sense to combine it with a drug like Sildenafil that also enhances blood flow in the penis. However, when Viagra finally came to market, it was missing an ingredient to make it completely non-prescription. (8)
As a result, it needed to be prescribed by a doctor. Luckily, since then it has gained a lot of popularity and now mostly serves as a backup treatment for erectile dysfunction. (9)
The Research
Although Viagra is mostly associated with treating erectile dysfunction, it has actually been shown to have several other therapeutic uses. Back in 2010, scientists from the University of California, San Diego reported that the hormone relaxin, which usually serves to relax and stretch the uterus during pregnancy, can actually be beneficial to men with ED. (10)
Relaxin promotes blood flow to the penis by relaxing the blood vessels and allowing the blood to circulate more freely. So, in theory, giving men with ED a dose of relaxin might help improve their erections. (11)
Other researchers, this time from the University of Sydney, reported in 2011 that the hormone adiponectin can also improve blood flow to the penis and potentially help treat ED. (12)
Adiponectin is produced by adipocytes (fat cells), and it acts as a natural anti-inflammatory molecule. Like relaxin, adiponectin improves blood flow and can help reduce the risk of heart disease. (13)
The Brand
Although it might not sound like it, Viagra is actually a highly-marketed drug. Back in 2010, when the University of Sydney researchers published their findings on adiponectin and ED, the FDA approved five new drugs to treat this very condition. (14)
However, it wasn’t long before the drugs began to hit the market. By 2016, Viagra was the best-selling treatment for ED, with sales of more than $11 billion (USD). (15)
The Ugly
There is some evidence to suggest that Viagra could be dangerous. In 2010, the FDA became concerned about reports of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in some patients taking sildenafil. (16)
It turned out that many of these cases were actually caused by a rare condition called priapism. (17)
Priapism is a potentially-life-threatening condition in which a man’s erections stay firm and abnormal, causing discomfort and occasionally leading to tissue damage. (18)
Unfortunately, some people suffering from priapism were also taking Viagra, which the FDA determined to be the likely cause of their condition. (19)
The problem was allegedly occurring in people with ED who were also taking antidepressants. (20)
Fortunately, the risk of priapism is minimal. The only side effect that comes with a 1-in-10,000 risk of developing is priapism. (21)
Summary
So, what is Viagra? A drug originally developed to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence. Besides its proven effectiveness and relatively common side effects, Viagra is also famous for having several other therapeutic applications. Since 2010, when the first reports of positive clinical trials emerged, researchers have studied the potential benefits of this oral medication, reporting that it can improve blood flow to the penis, reduce the risk of heart disease, and even be used to treat early dementia symptoms.